Growing up as (most likely) the only Saints fan in my Pennsylvania hometown, I quickly realized that my favorite team had virtually no national profile. They weren’t the team regularly featured on SportsCenter. I was lucky to get a box score of the previous week’s game in our local paper. Even the official NFL merchandise catalog contained a precious few Saints items.
My, how times have changed.
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the past year, it’s been hard to lose sight of the Saints. Not only are they featured prominently in several NFL ads, but the team is in high demand with corporate sponsors as well. Just a few weeks ago, a Verizon commercial came out depicting a Saints vs. Jets matchup in the middle of the woods.
NBC’s Today Show broadcast live from New Orleans in anticipation of the season opener against Minnesota. Including that game, the Saints will play in 4 primetime games during the 2010 season. Plus, they’ll visit Dallas on Thanksgiving, their first ever game on turkey day. I feel like I’m just scratching the surface of their significant appearances.
And, apparently, the NFL and its partners are giving the people what they want: More Saints! Their Super Bowl victory against the Indianapolis Colts was the most watched program in American TV history. And last week’s opener was the highest-rated opening night in NFL history.
Of course, this media frenzy has come partly due to the Super Bowl championship. But you could see the seeds being planted back in 2006. That’s when the Saints returned to New Orleans after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina the previous year.
The Saints made it to their first-ever NFC Championship Game, acquired high-profile players in quarterback Drew Brees and running back Reggie Bush. More importantly, they served as an inspiration for the entire country.
Last year’s championship just sent things into a whole other stratosphere. The team and city’s story, along with their special relationship, has won the hearts of a lot of people. Even casual football fans don’t seem to mind smiling at what’s happened to New Orleans and its Saints during this past year.
I also have to credit the entire Saints organization, from owners Tom Benson and Rita Benson LeBlanc, coach Sean Payton and the players themselves led by Drew Brees. The team’s dedication to community service has made them beloved at home and admired by people all over.
This is a rare combination of off-field tragedy, on-field success and a franchise willing to give something back to its fans. The result has been something that Saints fans could only dream about for the past 4 decades.
Perhaps the Dallas Cowboys will have to make room for a new “America’s Team”?
Football Fan Spot 